It’s
clear ... Motorcycle helmets save lives. To help protect the lives of
motorcycle riders, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) requires
that all motorcycle helmets sold in the United States meet Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 218. This standard defines minimum levels
of performance that helmets must meet to protect the head and brain in
the event of a crash. Each year, DOT conducts compliance testing of a
variety of motorcycle helmets to determine whether helmets being sold
in the United States meet the Federal safety standard. Because helmets
add such a critical margin of safety for motorcycle riders, many States
now have laws requiring use of helmets that meet FMVSS 218 requirements.
Some motorcycle riders are violating these State laws by wearing unsafe
helmets that do not meet FMVSS 218. Most of these helmets are sold as
novelty items and circumvent FMVSS 218’s requirements. In some
cases, some motorcyclists purchase these helmets in the mistaken belief
that they offer protection. However, many people who wear these novelty
helmets know that they are unsafe – but wear them anyway. This
brochure explains how to identify unsafe novelty helmets as well as how
to distinguish unsafe helmets from those that meet the Federal safety
standard.

Here is What to Check
For:

Thick Inner Liner
Helmets meeting the minimum Federal safety standard have an inner liner
usually about one-inch thick of firm polystyrene foam. Sometimes the
inner liner will not be visible, but you should still be able to feel
its thickness. Unsafe helmets normally contain only soft foam padding
or a bare plastic shell with no padding at all.

Weight of Helmet
Depending on design, unsafe helmets weigh only one pound or less. Helmets
meeting FMVSS 218 generally weigh about three pounds. Become familiar
with the weight of helmets that comply with the Federal safety standard.
These helmets provide a more substantial feel.

Design/Style of Helmet
The DOT safety standard does not allow anything to extend further than
two-tenths of an inch from the surface of a helmet. For example,
while visor fasteners are allowed, a spike or other protruding decorations
indicate an unsafe helmet.

A design such as the German Army style or skullcap style may be a
clue to an unsafe helmet. Unsafe helmets are noticeably smaller in
diameter and thinner than ones meeting the DOT standard. However, some
German Army style helmet may meet Federal requirements.

You’ll need to check for weight, thickness, sturdy
chinstraps, as well as the “DOT” and manufacturer’s labels
to make sure the helmet meets the Federal safety standard. Familiarize
yourself with brand names and designs of helmets that comply with DOT requirements.
For example, a full-face design is a good indicator of a safe helmet. To
date, we have never seen a full-face design novelty helmet.

DOT Sticker
Helmets that meet FMVSS 218 must have a sticker on the outside back of
the helmet with the letters “DOT,” which certifies that
the helmet meets or exceeds FMVSS 218. It is important to note that
some novelty helmet sellers provide DOT stickers separately for motorcyclists
to place on non-complying helmets. In this case, the DOT sticker is
invalid and does not certify compliance.

Snell or ANSI Label
In addition to the DOT sticker, labels located inside the helmet showing
that a helmet meets the standards of private, non-profit organizations
such as Snell or the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) are
good indicators that the helmet also meets the Federal safety standard.
To date, we have never seen a novelty helmet that has a phony DOT sticker
in addition to a phony Snell or ANSI label.

Manufacturer’s Labeling
Manufacturers are required under FMVSS 218 to place a label on or inside
the helmet stating the manufacturer’s name, model, size, month
and year of manufacture, construction materials, and owner’s
information. A helmet that does not meet the Federal safety standard
usually does not have such labeling.

Remember a DOT sticker on the back of the helmet
and proper inside labeling do not necessarily indicate that a helmet
meets all DOT requirements. Many helmets have counterfeit DOT stickers
and a limited few also have manufacturer’s labeling. But the
design and weight of a helmet, thickness of the inner liner, and the
quality of the chin strap and rivets are extra clues to help distinguish
safe helmets from non-complying ones.